Greetings and blessings, beloved family and Happy Sunday, the Feast of the Baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ!
Today is a feast when we are all invited to reflect on our own baptism. We thank the good Lord for the precious gift of baptismš
FEAST AND SAINTS OF THE DAY: FEAST DAY ~ JANUARY 12, 2025
SOLEMNITY OF THE BAPTISM OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
[Feast is celebrated on Sunday after January 6 (Or Monday if Epiphany is celebrated on Sunday, January 7 or 8)]
OPENING OF THE HOLY DOORS SCHEDULES | JUBILEE OF HOPE 2025 [Details and links below]
Watch “HOLY MASS ON THE FEAST OF THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD | PRESIDED BY POPE FRANCIS | LIVE FROM THE SISTINE CHAPEL IN THE VATICAN | JANUARY 12, 2025 | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/01/12/holy-mass-on-the-feast-of-the-baptism-of-the-lord-presided-by-pope-francis-live-from-the-sistine-chapel-in-the-vatican-january-12-2025/
LIVE from the Sistine Chapel | Pope Francis’ Holy Mass on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. The Holy Father also baptize some children during the celebration.
Today, we celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, and this day marks the last day of the entire Christmas season and celebrations, although traditionally, it is still celebrated in some form until the fortieth day after Christmas, which is on the second day of February, the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord or Candlemas. Today’s feast of the Baptism of our Lord is a liturgical bridge that connects the Christmas season to Ordinary Time. During the Christmas season we pondered the Incarnation, Nativity, Presentation in the Temple, and Epiphany. On this day, the Lordās baptism at the River Jordan by St. John the Baptist is the focus of what we commemorate today, reminding ourselves that the Holy Child born in Bethlehem over two millennia ago eventually grew up in Body, Wisdom and Spirit, and became the Man ready to embark on the ministry which He had been sent into this world for, to save us all mankind and to reveal the love of God manifested perfectly through Him. Today, we see Jesus manifesting Himself to the world as He began His three years of public ministry. As we commemorate Jesusā baptism liturgically, we celebrate the fact that our Christian baptism was the beginning of this new unity with the Holy Trinity. But we also celebrate our oneness with God, which is renewed every time we make an interior act of repentance for our sins. If we fully understood what happens every time we acknowledge our sins and repent of them, we would never grow tired of repenting. Every time we acknowledge and repent of our sin, we meet Christ anew, receive a greater outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and affirm and deepen our adoption by the Father in Heaven. We continue to pray for God’s grace and mercy upon us conlude the Christmas season and begin the Ordinary Time, and may the Lord grant us the grace to serve Him in spirit and in truthš
On this Special Feast day, through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary, and all the Saints, we humbly pray and thank God for blessing us all with the gift of His precious son, our Savior Jesus Christ! For the safety and well-being of all our children and school children as they return to school this new year after the Christmas holiday. We pray for God’s guidance and protection upon them. We continue to pray for peace all around the world, particularly in the Middle East, Ukraine-Russia and other parts of the world. We pray for an end to the wars and conflicts, and for peace in our families and throughout our divided and conflicted World. For the gentle repose of the souls of all the faithful departed, may the Lord receive them into the light of Eternal Kingdom. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May their gentle souls and souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in perfect peace with our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen š āļøšÆāļøšÆāļøšÆ
“Blessed are those who have died in the Lord; let them rest from their abors for their good deeds go with them.” ~ Rev 14:13
PRAYER FOR THE DEAD: In your hands, O Lord, we humbly entrust our brothers and sisters. In this life, you embraced them with your tender love; deliver them now from every evil, and bid them eternal rest. The old order has passed away: welcome them into paradise, where there will be no sorrow, no weeping or pain, but fullness of peace and joy with your Son and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amenš
Watch “Holy Mass on the Solemnity of the Baptism of the Lord and Holy Rosary on Sunday, January 12, 2025 on EWTN” |
Watch “Holy Mass from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | January 12, 2025 |
Pray “Holy Rosary for Peace with Pope Francis” | LIVE Basilica of St. Mary Major | October 6, 2024 |
Pray “Holy Rosary Novena From Lourdes” | January 12, 2025 |
Pray “The Chaplet of Divine Mercy in song”| January 12, 2025 |
Pray “Holy Rosary ALL 20 Mysteries VIRTUALš¹JOYFULš¹LUMINOUSš¹SORROWFULš¹GLORIOUS” oĆ¹n YouTube |
Memorare Chaplet | Prayer in Difficult Times (Powerful Prayer) |
Today’s Bible Readings: Solemnity of the Baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ | Sunday, January 12, 2025
Reading 1,Ā Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7 OR
IsaiahĀ Ā 40:1-5, 9-11
Responsorial Psalm,Ā Psalms 29:1-2, 3-4, 3, 9-10 OR
Psalm 104:1b-2, 3-4, 24-25, 27-28, 29-30Ā
Reading 2,Ā Acts 10:34-38 OR
Titus 2:11-14; 3:4-7
Gospel,Ā Luke 3:15-16, 21-22
Today, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ.
THE BAPTISM OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST: The Solemnity of the Baptism of the Lord is closely connected with the Solemnity of the Epiphany; both are biblical manifestations of Jesus Christ as the Son of God. In the churchās liturgical year, the feast of the Baptism of the Lord concludes the Christmas season. Although traditionally Christmas is still being celebrated all the way up to the second day of February, the fortieth day since Christmas, marking a traditional forty days of Christmas season. But this day marks that transition from our focus and emphasis on the birth of Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world, and into His ministry and works in this world, with the moment of Baptism marking that significant new beginning and change. TheĀ Feast of the Baptism of the Lord commemorates theĀ baptism of JesusĀ in theĀ Jordan RiverĀ byĀ John the Baptist. This feast is also referred to as Theophany because at the baptism of Christ in the River Jordan God appeared in three persons. The voice of God was audibly heard to declare to the gathered crowd, āThis is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.ā Originally the baptism of Christ was celebrated onĀ Epiphany, which commemorates the coming of theĀ Magi, the baptism of Christ, and theĀ wedding at Cana. Over time in the West, however, the celebration of the Baptism of the Lord came to be commemorated as a distinct feast from Epiphany. It is now celebrated on the first Sunday following the Solemnity of the Epiphany of Our Lord. That is on Sunday after January 6th or Monday if Epiphany is celebrated on Sunday, January 7th or 8th.
The baptism of Christ in the Jordan is the second epiphany, or manifestation, of the Lord. The past, the present, and the future are made manifest in this epiphany. Pope Pius XII instituted in 1955 a separate liturgical commemoration of the Baptism. The Tridentine Calendar had no feast of the Baptism of the Lord for almost four centuries. Then the feast was instituted, under the denomination “Commemoration of the Baptism of our Lord”, for celebration on 13 January as a major double, using for the Office and the Mass those previously said on the Octave of the Epiphany, which Pius XII abolished; but if the Commemoration of the Baptism of Our Lord occurred on a Sunday, the Office and Mass were to be those of the Feast of the Holy Family without any commemoration. In his revision of the calendar five years later, Pope John XXIII kept on 13 January the “Commemoration of the Baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ”, with the rank of a second-class feast. A mere 14 years after the institution of the feast, Pope Paul VI set its date as the first Sunday after January 6 (as early as January 7 or as late as January 13) or, if in a particular country the Epiphany is celebrated on Sunday January 7 or Sunday January 8, on Monday January 8 or Monday January 9.
Pope John Paul II initiated a custom whereby on this feast the Pope baptizes babies in the Sistine Chapel. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, #1213: āBaptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit, and the door which gives access to the other Sacramentsā. At His baptism Jesus sanctified the earthās waters, giving water the power to beget sons of God through the Sacrament of Baptism. Through the cleansing waters of baptism Jesus heals our sinful nature and clothes us with His own Divine life, bringing us into the Kingdom of God. It is by imitating Our Lord in His Baptism that a person becomes a Christian, the first sacrament of initiation into the Church.
Through our own baptism, when we were welcomed into the Church, be it as infants or as adults, each and every one of us have been made part of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church, the same Body of Christ, the united assembly of all the people who are faithful in God, and counted among the flock of those whom God had called and chosen. Each and every one of us has professed our faith in the Lord, and renewed them every time we renew them ever since at Easter. Now, the question is, are we all truly aware of what we have been called to do as Christians? Are we aware of the missions and vocation which God has entrusted to each one of us in calling us all to walk in the path of righteousness and grace? Baptism is not the end of the journey of faith, especially for all those of us who have gone through the period of catechism and catechumenate, leading to our baptisms as adults. Baptism is the beginning of this new phase in our lives, as we enter into a life of holiness, free from the bondage and the tyranny of sin, evil and death. However, we can always fall back again into sin, and be corrupted again by the many temptations present all around us. Hence, it is important that we remain vigilant, and strive as always to live our lives as worthily as possible, in obeying the Law and commandments of God, and in ensuring that our whole lives, our every actions, words and deeds are always full of faith and grace of God. Let us all therefore recall the moments when we were baptised, and initiated into the Church and in receiving this Christian faith, and hence let us all recall the promises and commitments we have made at our baptism, and heed the Lordās call for us to follow Him and walk in His path. Let our lives be truly faithful and full of Christian virtues, at all times, and each one of us become the shining beacons and examples of our faith to others around us. The Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord, brings to an end the liturgical season of Christmas as we begin the first part of the Ordinary Time tomorrow.
PRAYER: God of light, You sent Your Spirit down upon Your Son Jesus at His Baptism. Send us your Spirit too, so that we may be filled with the courage to do all that you ask of us. May the Lord our God be with us always in this journey of faith, and may He continue to bless our every works, good efforts and endeavours, done for His greater glory, now and always, forevermore. Amenš
SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS:
Bible Readings for today, The Baptism of the Lord | USCCB | https://bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-reading
Gospel Reading ~ Luke 3:15ā16, 21ā22
“When Jesus had been baptized and was praying, heaven was opened”
“The people were filled with expectation, and all were asking in their hearts whether John might be the Christ. John answered them all, saying, āI am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming. I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.ā After all the people had been baptized and Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, āYou are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.ā
Today’s Gospel reading this Sunday, the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord gives an account of the moment the Lordās Baptism took place, as recounted by St. John the Baptist himself, who told his own disciples about the One Who has just come into their midst, the Messiah that has been long awaited for by everyone, Jesus Christ, the Son of God. St. John the Baptist recognised the Lord when he saw Him just as much earlier on when both of them were still in their mothersā wombs, at the time when Mary, the Mother of God visited Elizabeth, the mother of St. John the Baptist. St. John the Baptist recounted to his disciples how great signs happened when Jesus was baptised, that the voice of God the Father Himself was heard, affirming that Jesus is indeed the Son of God, and the Holy Spirit, completing the Presence of the Holy Trinity, descended on Him like a Dove. Reflecting on the day of the Lordās baptism can bring home to us the significance of the day of our own baptism. The baptism of Jesus set Him on a journey that had consequences which no one at the time could have imagined. In a similar way, the day of our baptism launched us on a shared journey in the footsteps of Jesus, a journey towards the Father in the power of the Spirit. Because of our baptism we are the church, the body of Christ in the world. Our baptism calls us to represent Jesus for the rest of our lives, to be His presence to others, to serve others in the way He did. That call of our baptism never leaves us, even when we neglect to pay attention to it. It is there every day of our lives. That calling represents the deepest truth of our lives because it flows from our baptismal identity which endures into eternity. Baptism is intended to shape us for life. The other sacraments are given to us as moments when we can renew our baptism and respond more fully to our baptismal calling. In the Sacrament of Reconciliation we acknowledge the ways that we have failed to live our baptism and open ourselves afresh to the Lordās gift of his Spirit. In the Eucharist we gather together to publicly proclaim our baptismal identity and be nourished and sustained on our baptismal journey by the word of the Lord and the Lordās body and blood. Today is a good day to celebrate our baptism and also to give thanks for our parents, whose faith carried us to the baptismal font. Our baptism sets the tone for all of our lives. What God said to us on the day of our baptism, He says to us every day of our lives. That is why we say āI am baptizedā, rather than āI was baptizedā. Baptism gives us our identity as Godās beloved sons and daughters on whom Godās favour rests. That is why we are only baptized once, and then we spend our lives embracing our baptism and all it means. Jesusā baptism was the beginning of His mission of revealing the kindness and love of God to all. That is our baptismal calling too. Like Jesus, we are called to share with others the favour of God which rests upon us.
Recalling the baptism of Jesus and what it meant for Him and His messianic calling reminds us of our baptism and what it means for us. First, it reminds us of who we are and to whom we belong. By Baptism we become children of God, brothers and sisters of Jesus. By baptism, as the Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us, we become temples of the Holy Spirit, members of the Body of Christ (the Church), and sharers in the priesthood of Christ. The baptism of Jesus also reminds us of our missionary calling as children of God. In acknowledging our own dignity as Godās children, we are called to appreciate the Divine Presence in others by honoring them, loving them and serving them in all humility. We are challenged to live as children of God in thought, word and action so that our heavenly Father may say to each one of us what He said to Jesus: āYou are my beloved son/daughter with whom I am well pleasedā. Our baptism commits us to live holy and transparent Christian lives and to grow in intimacy with God by personal and community prayer, by reading and reflecting on the Word of God, and by participating in the Eucharist and other sacraments. We should also continue to live our lives worthily of the Lord henceforth, and do our best to show what we believe in within our every actions, words and deeds in life. Just as the Lordās Baptism marked the beginning of His ministry in this world, we are also therefore reminded that our own baptism is not the end of the journey or the goal, but rather the beginning of our new mission and ministry entrusted to us by God. We should therefore commit to continuing the mission of Jesus to establish true justice on earth, to be co-creators with God in building up His Kingdom of compassion, justice and love, to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world.
In our first reading this Sunday from the Book of the prophet Isaiah, the Lord reassured His people living in the southern kingdom of Judah with the words of comfort reminding them of the salvation that He would give to them through the Saviour that He promised to all of them. The Lord told His people that salvation shall come to Zion, Jerusalem, representing the people of God, and this would be heralded by the āvoice crying out in the wildernessā which was fulfilled by St. John the Baptist, who lived in the wilderness and called on all the people to return towards the Lord their God, to repent from their many sins, evils and wickedness, turning back to the righteous paths and ways of the Lord. The Lord revealed that in the coming of His salvation, His intentions and desire to be reunited with His people, His love and compassion towards all of them would be made known to them, and the Lord Himself would come to the people He loves very much in order to gather them all and to bring them all into His Presence, as their Good and loving Shepherd. He did all these through His Son, Who has embraced our human nature and existence, coming into our midst in the form of Man, to gather all of us back into the one flock of those whom God had called and chosen. Through His baptism, the Lord is sharing with us this journey that we shall all walk together with Him, towards the true happiness and eternal life in God.
In our second reading today from the Epistle of St. Paul to St. Titus, his protege and godson, the Apostle spoke of the salvation which God had brought into our midst through His Son, and how by the grace of His love and mercy, all of us who believe in Him has shared the gift of the waters of baptism, hearkening back to our own baptism, the moment when we become parts and members of the One Church of God, brought together into this family of Godās Kingdom, giving us the new hope through the Sacrament of Baptism, that by sharing in His death and Resurrection, all of us shall die to our past sins and wickedness, our faults and corrupt nature, and enter into a new grace-filled life with Christ. St. Paul essentially reminded each and every one of us that through our baptism, we have received the sanctifying grace from God, and through the Holy Spirit that He has given us by this baptism, we have all been made the children of God, the adopted sons and daughters of the Lord, and through grace that we have received, the path towards eternal life and true happiness have been opened to us, and salvation itself, our reunion with God our loving Father and Creator is no longer just merely a dream or inspiration, but rather has become a reality for us all. He has given us all the grace of salvation and has redeemed us all through what He has done in His Son, by His loving sacrifice on the Cross, manifesting perfectly the great and ever enduring love that God has always had for us all.
As we reflect on the words of the Sacred Scriptures and rejoice today on this Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, let us all spend some time to reflect on whether we have been truly faithful to God in our actions and deeds, in our way of life and believing in Him. If we have not been truly faithful and devoted to Him, then the time is now for us to really consider and discern our path going forward in life, and we should spend the time to think of how we can better glorify God by our lives and actions, in each and every daily moments and at all opportunities. Let us all strive to draw ever closer to God and to remain firmly committed to walk the path towards His salvation and grace, fulfilling and ever being mindful of our baptismal promises. Carrying out our missions entrusted to us by God faithfully in our lives, doing whatever we can so that we may truly embrace our calling in life as Christians, and to truly embody our faith in God which we have professed at our own baptism. Let us all remember that we have been made children and the holy people of Godās own flock, family and kingdom, and thus, we should do our part in ensuring that we resist whatever temptations we may have encountered in our path, that we may be free from the corruptions of sin, all the things that have become obstacles and barriers in our journey towards the Lord, our most loving and compassionate God. May the Lord be with us always, and may He continue to guide us in each and every moments of our lives, so that we will always be exemplary and good inspiration to one another in faith. May God in His infinite grace and mercy, grant us His grace and may the Lord, by Whose Baptism we have been saved, through His suffering and death on the Cross, and by His glorious Resurrection, empower us and strengthen us that we may always ever be faithful to Him, now and always. Amen š
SAINTS OF THE DAY: MEMORIAL OF SAINT BENEDICT BISCOP, ABBOT AND SAINT MARGUERITE, BOURGEOYS, RELIGIOUS AND FOUNDRESS – FEAST DAY ~ JANUARY 12TH Today, on this special feast of the Baptism of our Lord, we celebrate the Memorial of Saint Benedict Biscop, Abbot and Saint Marguerite Bourgeoys, Religious and Foundress.
SAINT BENEDICT BISCOP, ABBOT: St. Benedict (628-690), sometimes referred to as Bennet or Biscop Baducing, lived in the seventh century. He descended from a noble family and was an officer of the court of Oswi, the religious king of the Northumbers. At the age of 25 (c.Ā 653) St. Benedict made the first of his five trips to Rome on a pilgrimage. He returned filled with a zeal and hunger for learning Holy Scripture and to living his faith. Soon after his return to England, Prince Alefrid, son of King Oswi, also wanted to make a pilgrimage to some shrines of the Apostles and asked Bennet to accompany him. However, the king would not allow his son to make the journey, so Bennet made a second trip to Rome. He was so filled with the Holy Spirit and the desire to grow in holiness that he yearned to learn as much as he could about divine things. So he went to the great monastery of Lerins which was famous for its discipline and there took the monastic habit, spending two years in observance of the rule.
When he returned to Rome again, he received an order from Pope Vitalian to accompany St. Theodorus, Archbishop of Canterbury, and St. Adrian to England. Upon his arrival at Canterbury, St. Theodorus put St. Benedict in charge of the monastery of Sts. Peter and Paul. He stayed two years in Kent, studying Scripture and living the monastic life. When he returned to Northumberland, King Egfrid gave him 70 ploughs of land for building a monastery. After the monastery was built, St. Benedict went to France and brought back skillful masons to build a stone church for the monastery. Stone buildings at that time were rare in Britain and most churches were made of wood. He also brought over glaziers from France, for the art of making glass was also unknown in Britain at that time. In yet a fifth trip to Rome, St. Benedict gathered a great stock of books, especially the writings of the Fathers, along with relics and holy pictures. St. Benedict continued to enrich the church with holy relics, pictures and books. In his zeal to make his monastery as close to the Roman models as possible, St. Benedict prevailed upon Pope Agatho to let him take back to England John, abbot of St. Martinās and preceptor in St. Peterās Church in Rome, and placed him in the monastery to teach the monks Gregorian chants and Roman ceremonies for singing the divine office. He also built another monastery six miles away at Jarrow, and ruled both since they were regarded as one. St. Benedict suffered from severe illness for three years and two months before his death, he appointed St. Ceolfrid abbot of his monastery. St. Benedict, holy and zealous worker of God died on January 12, 690.
PRAYER:Ā Lord, amid the things of this world, let us be wholeheartedly committed to heavenly things in imitation of the example of evangelical perfection You have given us in St. Benedict the Abbot. Amenš
Ā
SAINT MARGUERITE, BOURGEOYS, RELIGIOUS AND FOUNDRESS: Saint Marguerite (1620-1700) was aĀ FrenchĀ nunĀ and founder of theĀ Congregation of Notre Dame of MontrealĀ in the colony ofĀ New France, now part ofĀ QuĆ©bec, Canada and was also instrumental in establishing the Canadian city of Montreal. She was devoted to the needs of the poor and uneducated, from whom people of both European as well as Native-American descent in 17thĀ century Canada benefited from her great zeal and unshakable trust in Godās Providence. St. Marguerite Bourgeoys was born on on Good Friday, April 17, 1620 inĀ Troyes, France to a devout parents from a middle-class family, Abraham Bourgeoys, a candle-maker and Guillemette Garnier, she was the seventh of their thirteen children. When she was nineteen years old, her mother died.Ā The following year she was inspired to consecrate herself to serving God. She joined a lay group of young women dedicated to teaching poor children. The governor of Montreal, Canada, was in France looking for teachers for the New World. He invited Marguerite to come to Montreal to teach school and religion classes. She agreed and, upon her arrival in 1653, she began to teach the local French and Indian children. Life in the colony was physically very difficult. Marguerite discovered that many children, due to disease or malnutrition, were not likely to survive to an age suitable for attending school. Nevertheless, she began to work with the nurse in charge of Montrealās hospital and eventually established her first school in a stable.
Marguerite made three trips across the Atlantic, returning to France to recruit more teachers for her mission and fledgling Order, which was named the Congregation of Notre Dame (Our Lady). It was a unique Order in that the sisters were teachers and were not cloistered (living together in prayer). Mother Marguerite, as she was now known, fought to keep her mission independent from other Orders and to convince the bishop to let her sisters travel as teachers in the wild ranges of the Canadian wilderness. Though the teaching sisters often lived in huts and suffered other hardships, the Order grew. They did not dedicate themselves to teaching solely children, but also set up schools wherein they taught new immigrants how to survive in their new environment. As the Order expanded, which was formally approved by the Church in 1698, Mother Marguerite passed leadership on to one of the other sisters, and spent her last few years praying and writing her autobiography. On the last day of 1699, one of the young members of her congregation lay dying. Mother Marguerite asked the Lord to take her own life in exchange. By the morning of January 1, 1700, the young sister had recovered and Mother Marguerite had a raging fever. She suffered for 12 days and on January 12, 1700, after 60 years of blessed labor for our Lord teaching and reaching out to the poor, God called her home. St. Marguerite was beatified on November 12, 1950 by Pope Pius XII and was canonized a Saint on October 31, 1982 by Pope John Paul II and she became Canadaās first female Saint. She’s the Patron Saint against poverty; impoverishment; loss of parents; people rejected by religious orders; poverty.
PRAYER: “O Mother Bourgeoys, you, whose compassionate power is ever increasing, show us your way of Truth, Faith and Holiness. Make us humble enough to abandon ourselves to the Will of God, generous enough to find in the Cross the joy of the Loving Giver. May your fidelity to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament lead us ever nearer to this source of light and peace. May your spirit of openness help us to be concerned for our brothers and sisters throughout the world. Finally, may Our Lady of the Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, bring us to this unity of eternal grace to which God has called you for all eternity. Amen”š
DEVOTION OF THE MONTH OF JANUARY | MONTH OF THE HOLY NAME OF JESUS: The month of January is traditionally dedicated to the Holy Name of Jesus. After the Blessed Virgin Mary conceived by the Holy Spirit, the Angel Gabriel appeared to St. Joseph and told him that the Childās name should be called Jesus, meaning āGod Saves.ā According to Jewish law, on the 8th day after his birth a male child was to be circumcised, receive his name, and become a full member of Godās covenant people. According to the old Roman liturgical calendar, the Feast of the Circumcision of Jesus was celebrated on January 1st, eight days after Christmas, the same day that He was given His sacred name. Currently we celebrate the SolemnityĀ of the Mother of God on January 1st and honor the Holy Name of Jesus on January 3rd. For Catholics, Jesusā sacred name is the object of a special devotion symbolized by the monogram āIHS,ā (sometimes called a Christogram), which is the first three letters of the GreekĀ spelling of His name.
https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=12538
THE POPEāS MONTHLY INTENTIONS FOR 2024: FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY – FOR THE RIGHT TO EDUCATION: Let us pray for migrants, refugees, and those affected by war, that their right to an education, which is necessary to build a better world, might always be respected.
https://www.usccb.org/prayers/popes-monthly-intentions-2025
PRAYER FOR PEACE ~ POPE FRANCIS:
Lord God of peace, hear our prayer!
A PRAYER FOR PEACE: Lord Jesus Christ, You are the true King of peace. In You alone is found freedom. Please free our world from conflict. Bring unity to troubled nations. Let Your glorious peace reign in every heart. Dispel all darkness and evil. Protect the dignity of every human life. Replace hatred with Your love. Give wisdom to world leaders. Free them from selfish ambition. Eliminate all violence and war. Glorious Virgin Mary, Saint Michael the Archangel, Every Angel and Saint: Please pray for peace. Pray for unity amongst nations. Pray for unity amongst all people. Pray for the most vulnerable. Pray for those suffering. Pray for the fearful. Pray for those most in need. Pray for us all. Jesus, Son of the Living God, have mercy on us. Jesus, hear our prayers. Jesus, I trust in You! Amen š
Prayers for Peace | https://mycatholic.life/catholic-prayers/prayers-for-peace/
PRAYER INTENTIONS: Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and the Saints, on this special feast of the Baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ, we humbly pray and thank God for blessing us all with the gift of His precious son, may we be saved by the name and baptism of our Savior Jesus Christ! May our Blessed Mother, the Virgin Mary support us by her intercession in our commitment to follow Christ on the way of faith and charity, the path traced out by our Baptism. We pray for all children and all those that will receive the Sacrament of Baptism on this special day. May they receive the Holy Spirit and grace of God. Through the intercession of St. Marguerite, we pray for the poor, the needy, torture victims and the most vulnerable in our communities and around the world. May the Lord grant us His grace as we continue to serve Him in spirit and in truth. We pray for peace, love and unity in our marriages, our families and our world today, as we face these incredibly challenging times. We pray for God’s deliverance from impossible causes or situations. We pray for the sick and dying, especially sick children, those who are mentally and physically ill, strokes, heart diseases, and those suffering from cancers and other terminal diseases. We pray for an end to wars, political and religious unrest. We pray for torture victims, the poor, the needy and the most vulnerable in our communities and around the world. We pray for the souls in Purgatory and the repose of the souls of the faithful departed and for all widows and widowers. And we continue to pray for our Holy Father, Pope Francis, the Bishops, the Clergy and all those who preach the Gospel. We pray for vocations to the priesthood and religious life, for the Church, for persecuted christians, for all the innocent who suffer violence due to political or religious unrest, for the conversion of sinners, and Christians all over the worldā¦ Amenš
Let us pray
Lord, I thank You for Your humble act of baptism by which You opened the Heavens to all who are sinners. May I open my heart to the unfathomable grace of my own baptism each and every day and more fully live with You as a child of the Father, filled with the Holy Spirit. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, You came to me in my baptism and united me in my fallenness with You in Your divinity. I pray that I will continuously be aware of all that divides us and will never grow weary of repenting of my sin. I do repent once again, dear Lord. I beg for Your mercy and forgiveness and open myself more fully to You, Your Father, and the Holy Spirit. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Jesus I trust in You ~ Amen šš½
Save Us, Savior of the World. Our Blessed Mother Mary and Saint Benedict Biscop and St. Marguerite Bourgeoys ~ Pray for usš
Please find below links to the websites for Daily Reflections, Foundation and interesting topics and articles about our Catholic faith and doctrines:
DAILY REFLECTIONS | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/
FOUNDATION | https://gliopiepehe.org
SIR G.L.I OPIEPEāS HEALTH AND EDUCATION FOUNDATION |
THE LITURGICAL YEAR IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2024/12/03/the-liturgical-year-in-the-catholic-church/
THE HOLY ROSARY: WHAT IS THE HOLY ROSARY AND WHY DO WE PRAY THE HOLY ROSARY? | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2024/11/21/the-holy-rosary-what-is-the-holy-rosary-and-why-do-we-pray-the-holy-rosary/
THE SAINTS: WHO ARE THEY AND HOW ARE THEY CANONISED? | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2024/11/01/the-saints-who-are-they-and-how-are-they-canonised/
PURGATORY: WHAT IS PURGATORY? | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2024/11/15/purgatory-and-limbo/
OPENING OF THE HOLY DOORS SCHEDULES | JUBILEE OF HOPE 2025
Pope Francis opens the Holy Door Ushering in the Jubilee of Hope | ‘Hope is Alive’ | Vatican News | December 24, 2024 | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2024/12/25/pope-francis-opens-the-holy-door-ushering-in-the-jubilee-of-hope-hope-is-alive-vatican-news-december-24-2024/
- On Christmas Eve, Pope Francis opened the First Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica | Jubilee 2025 Inauguration | December 24, 2024 | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2024/12/24/pope-francis-opening-of-the-holy-door-and-christmas-eve-mass/
- On Christmas Day, Pope Francis delivered hisĀ Urbi et OrbiĀ message to the people of the city of Rome and the world from the central loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica at noon | https://youtu.be/jP2UZHtDjFg?si=tOfXdzrZ2vLPXRT3
- On 26 December, for the first time in the Jubilee tradition, Pope Francis opened a fifth sacred portal in a Roman prison – Rebibbia Prison, a gesture of hope that shows his ongoing closeness to detainees | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2024/12/26/watch-pope-francis-opens-the-holy-door-at-rebibbia-prison-and-presides-holy-mass-jubilee-2025-december-26-2024/
- On Sunday, 29 December, the Pope opened the Holy Door of his cathedral, Saint John Lateran, which on November 9, 2024 celebrated the 1700thĀ anniversary of its dedication | Jubilee of Hope 2025 | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2024/12/29/full-rite-opening-of-the-third-holy-door-of-the-basilica-of-st-john-lateran-and-holy-mass-on-the-feast-of-the-holy-family-of-jesus-mary-and-joseph-rome-jubilee-of-hope-2025-december-29-2024/
- Then, on 1 January 2025, the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, the Holy Door of the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major was opened | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/01/01/opening-of-the-holy-door-of-basilica-of-st-mary-the-major-january-1-2025/
- Lastly, Sunday, 5 January 2025, marks the opening of the Holy Door of the Papal Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/01/05/opening-of-the-holy-door-basilica-of-saint-paul-outside-the-walls-jubilee-2025-live-from-rome-january-5-2025/
These last three Holy Doors will be closed on Sunday, 28 December 2025.
THE JUBILEE PRAYER
Link to the prayer of the Jubilee of Hope 2025 | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/01/08/the-jubilee-prayer/
Thanking God for the gift of this new year and praying for justice, peace, love and unity in our families and our world and for God’s Divine Mercy and Grace upon us all. Journey mercies for all those traveling during this Christmas season and new year. Wishing all of us a most blessed, safe, healthy, prosperous and grace-filled Sunday and New Year! Amenš
Blessings and love always, Philomena š
